individual differences in unfolding preference data: A restricted latent class approach

Abstract

A latent class scaling approach is presented for modeling paired comparison and "pick-any/t" data obtained in a preference study. Although the latent class part of the model identifies homogeneous subgroups that are characterized by their choice probabilities for a set of alternatives, the scaling part of the model describes the single peakedness structure of the choice data. Procedures are suggested for examining the unfolding structure in an unrestricted latent class solution. Two applications are presented to illustrate the technique. In the first application, scaling solutions obtained from a latent class scaling model and a marginal maximum likelihood latent trait model are compared. Index terms: latent class analysis, paired comparison data, pick any/t data, unfolding models.